Saturday, April 4, 2026

Richard Owens' Wife, Elizabeth

      ©  Kathy Duncan, 2026

Unfortunately, sometimes it is easier to prove who a person is not rather than who they are.

Regrettably, this is the case with my ancestor Elizabeth, who was the wife of Richard Owens of Kershaw County, South. According to a family history, "Impressions of  My Father," written by her great-granddaughter, Rebecca (Gaskin) Eskridge, Elizabeth was born in 1800, married Richard Owens in 1818, and died at the age of 87, about 1887.

For many years, researchers, including myself, believed that Elizabeth was the daughter of William and Jane Hood because William's will named a daughter Elizabeth Owings, an earlier spelling of Owens. However, everything points to Elizabeth Hood being the wife of William G. Owens, Richard Owen's brother. 

William G. and Elizabeth (Hood) Owens removed to Pickens County, Alabama, along with many other residents of Kershaw County, South Carolina. 

Here is the "transcription" of William Hood's family bible, which appears online in conjunction with Pickens County, Alabama records:

"Hood Family Bible Records in possession of Miss Mary White, Aliceville, Alabama.

William Hood - born in Ireland May 19, 1750, died Kershaw County, South Carolina. He married about 1775 Jane Wiggins, born July 1757, died January 28, 1828. Both buried Old Bever Creek Presbyterian Church yard near Camden, South Carolina.

William Hood settled first in Lancaster County, PA. later moved to Kershaw District, South Carolina. He was a man of good repute and reared a large family of twelve children. His will is on file in Camden, South Carolina. The children were all born in South Carolina: John B. Hood (b. 11 Apr. 1776); William Hood (b. 12 Dec. 1778); Andrew Hood (b. 12 Feb, 1781); James Hood (b. 19 Feb. 1783); Sarah Hood (b. 30 Jun. 1785, d. Pickens Co., AL 25 Feb. 1867, married 22 Feb. 1810 to John Sommerville who was born in S.C. 14 Dec. 1780, d. 14 Aug. 1857 Pickens Co., AL. Both buried Old Oak Grove Presbyterian Churchyard near Aliceville, Pickens County, AL); Margaret Hood (b. 3 Nov. 1788); Jane Hood (b. 5 November 1789); Elizabeth Hood (b. 19 Mar 1792, married William Owens, he died age 52 yrs. 9 mo. 18 days); Mahala Hood (b. 19 Nov. 1794); Archibald Hood (b. 3 Apr. 1796, d. 25 Mar 1871 in Pickens Co., AL); Israel McD. Hood (b. 7 Nov. 1800); Samuel Hood (b. 8 Apr 1803, d. 22 Apr 1879)

The following persons are buried in Pickens Co., AL.: Samuel Wiggins Hood (b. SC 18 Apr 1803, d. Pickens Co., AL 22 Apr 1879) He married 1st., Eliza Jane, daughter of James Summerville of Liberty Hall, S.C. They were married 18 Feb. 1830, she was born 11 May 1807, died Pickens Co., AL Aug 1862. Married 2nd. Amanda Summerville, sister of the 1st. wife, she was born 10 Jul 1813. He married 3rd. Amanda Archibald.) Children by 1st. wife: William James Hood (died in infancy); Elizabeth Jane Hood (b. 5 Jul 1822, d. 13 Jul 1914 Pickens Co., AL. m. 22 Jun 1854 Pickens Co., AL to Thomas Jefferson Clark); Margaret A. Hood (b. 30 Apr 1836 d. 25 Jul 1852); Samuel Hood, Jr. (b. 1 Jan 1840 d. 1922, m. Mary Long, b. 1840 d. 1903. No children).

Children of Elizabeth Jane Hood and Thomas Jefferson Clark are as follows: Samuel Clark (m. Mamie Shaw, had son James); Rebecca Clark (m. William A. Hood. b. 22 Mar 1861, d. 19 Aug 1906); Jefferson B. Clark (b. 20 Sep 1868 d. 3 Sep 1906, single); Lillie Clark (m. James Windham)

Children of Lillie Clark and James Windham are listed as follows: Clara Windham (m. 1st. Sam Parker); Lillie Mae Windham (m. George Downer, they had Ida Mae Downer; Eva Maude Downer; George Downer; Laura E. Downer: William Hugh Downer; Betty Jane Downer); John Windham (m. Lulela Shelton); Laura Lee Windham (m. Span Shaw, had James and Helen Shaw.

Children of Lillie Mae Windham and George Downer are as follows: Ida Mae Downer (m. had 2 children) Eva Maude Downer (m. had 1 child) George Downer (m. Eleanor Ethridge had 2 children) Laura E. Downer; William Hugh Downer; Betty Jane Downer."


In looking at this transcription, I have to wonder how much of it was actually from the bible and how much was added by a family historian. The Records of Pickens County, Alabama makes it clear that the first two paragraphs are connected with the bible. This record makes it clear that William Hood's daughter married William Owens.

William G. Owens and Elizabeth lived in Pickens County, Alabama, where they both died and are buried in the Bethany Cemetery in Pickens County.

In 1850, the widow Elizabeth Owens was living in Pickens County with three of her children and her nephew, E. G. Hood. 

There is no doubt in my mind that William and Jane Hood's daughter, Elizabeth, was the wife of William G. Owens, son of Archibald and Elizabeth (McLean) Owings/Owens of Kershaw County, South Carolina. 

But who did Richard Owens marry? All we know for sure is that her name was Elizabeth, she was born in 1800 in South Carolina, married Richard in 1818, and died in about 1887. 

Back to the drawing board! 

 

 

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Saturday, March 21, 2026

James S. Piper Series - Dedication

     ©  Kathy Duncan, 2026

I would like to dedicate my James S. Piper series of ongoing posts to my first cousin, Lowell Lennon. He is the son of my mother's only sister. His Facebook post in the fall of 2023 about the Mexican War Veteran's medal that belonged to his ancestor, Capt. James S. Piper triggered me to poke into Piper's history once again, and this time I had much more success than I had ever had before. 

Lowell and I exchanged Facebook DMs and emails as information bubbled to the surface. He was able to answer questions for me about all things army. Along the way, life had several difficult turns and twists for us. Lowell's son, David Bush, was diagnosed with cancer and lost his life last spring. Lowell and his wife were devastated. Last year, Lowell's youngest brother and my youngest cousin was diagnosed with a rare cancer. He lost his battle last month. 

Yesterday, I attended Lowell's own celebration of life service. He lost his six-month battle with leukemia a week ago. He was laid to rest by his mother, father, and brother. Maybe not so strangely, he is very near my paternal grandparents. 

Lowell was the cousin who kept us giggling at the children's table during holiday meals. He was the older cousin who made the whole family beam with pride when he went off to West Point. Our grandmother had a newspaper clipping about it displayed under glass on the top of her coffee table, where no one could miss it. He was the cousin who came back with a Corvette and gave each of us a ride in it. 

When my father died in 2018, Lowell spoke at his memorial. He told stories that revealed how my cousins viewed my father. Lowell described my father as the uncle who could be counted on to bring an amazing gadget each visit: one year a reel-to-reel tape recorder, another year a Polaroid camera, and one year a bright red Chevrolet Corvair. I was deeply touched that he commemorated my father's life with laughter and love. When I thanked him for coming all the way from Pennsylvania to East Texas for the service, he put his hand on his chest and said, "Of course, he was my own uncle!"

At the time, it reminded me of people in the past who, when referring to their full-blooded relatives, used phrases like "my own sister," "my own brother," and "my own aunt." 

Bert Lowell Lennon was my own cousin, and he will be greatly missed. 

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Sunday, March 1, 2026

James S. Piper, Three Generations - 1871

    ©  Kathy Duncan, 2026

This is a mini-case study in why it pays off to research your ancestor's siblings. I know many researchers only focus on their direct line and ignore siblings. Siblings, however, frequently help break down "brick walls." This was the case in uncovering James S. Piper's parentage.

In an earlier post, I presented a letter that Capt. James S. Piper wrote from Monterey, Mexico, to his brother, Dr. John R. Piper, of Washington, DC. This is the only document I have found so far that links James S. Piper to any of his siblings. Meanwhile, I have found nothing that directly links him to either of his parents. 

Dr. John R. Piper of Washington, DC, was a homeopathic doctor. When he died in 1871, his obituary was brief, but loaded with information:











Dr. John R. Piper was the son of Philip Piper of Baltimore. That means that Capt. James S. Piper was also the son of Philip Piper. Philip Piper died in 1860, and his obituary was published in The Sun:


























Philip Piper's obituary reveals that he was from Limerick, Ireland. It also reveals that he was one of the old Defenders of Baltimore. As is typical of the time, it does not reveal the name of his wife or children. Philip Piper's unnamed wife died twenty-seven years before he did, and her obituary appeared in the Baltimore papers:














A year before Philip Piper died, his unmarried daughter, Sarah E. Piper, died.







Almost ten years after Philip Piper's death, his youngest son, Frank A. Piper, died in California:






Twenty years after Philip Piper's death, his unmarried daughter, Catherine Piper, died.







Twenty-two years after Philip Piper's death, his grandson Horatio N. Piper died. Horatio N. Piper was the son of Capt. James S. Piper, so this obituary indirectly links James S. Piper to his father, Philip Piper.










Thirty-four years after Philip Piper's death, his unmarried daughter Mary Piper died.







Fifty-one years after his death, Philip Piper's last known surviving child, Elizabeth Piper, died. Unlike her siblings, her relationship to Philip Piper is not stated in her obituary. 









Capt. James S. Piper is the only child of Philip Piper's for whom I have not found an obituary. 



Elizabeth (Powers) Piper, Plot Twist

James S Piper, 1864

James S Piper Goes to Philadelphia, 1876

William H. Piper, 1864 - 1871

William H. Piper, 1871 - 1873

Mary (O'Hara) Piper, 1866

James S. Piper, 1865 - 1869


James S. Piper, 1870 - 1874





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Sunday, February 22, 2026

Susan (Nevill) Duncan, 1940 Obituary

   ©  Kathy Duncan, 2026

I have never found an obituary for my great-grandmother Duncan in the Clarksville Times, which was the most logical newspaper to print her obituary or death notice. Due to the owners of the Clarksville Times deliberately burning the older newspaper morgues, I did not think I would ever find a reference to Susan Gertrude (Nevill) Duncan's death.

As luck would have it, her brother Bud Neville (Solomon Neville) lived in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. The Broken Bow News reported his trip to visit her in Avery, Texas, when she was extremely ill with heart trouble in February 1940. Note that Duncan is misspelled in this notice. I found it by searching for articles referencing Bud Neville. If you are neglecting your ancestor's siblings in your searches, then you are missing out on information about your direct line that you might not find any other way. 














When Susie died a few months later, Bud Neville's trip to Avery for her funeral was referenced in the Broken Bow News: 




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Saturday, February 7, 2026

G. D. Nevill, 1924 Obituary

  ©  Kathy Duncan, 2026 

Take this to heart. Do not give up in your search for information on your ancestors. It's out there, but it may take some time to surface. I've searched for an obituary for my 2x great-grandfather, G. D. Nevill, for decades. I knew it was a fruitless search because the newspaper where he died burned, but I've continued to look. The old Clarksville, Texas newspapers, prior to about 1944, were consigned to the bonfire by the owners of the Clarksville Times years ago. It's a sore spot among the residents who care about Red River County's history. And I admit, it's a sore spot with me, too.

My 2x great-grandfather was named Grandison D. Nevill after his father. Sometimes the name appears as Granderson. However, for most of his life, he was called Granville D. Nevill. I thought it was originally to distinguish him from his father, but in some records his father is called Granville, too. But, I digress. Nevill is spelled a variety of ways in records: Nevill, Neville, Nevil, Nevills, Nevilles, Nevils, Nevels, etc. The full list has to be kept in mind when using databases, like those for newspapears, that require exact spelling.

As luck would have it, Red River County, Texas, borders McCurtain County, Oklahoma, which also had newspapers. Granville's son, Solomon "Bud" Nevill was a real estate agent in Broken Bow, McCurtain County, Oklahoma. When Bud Nevill's father died, and he went to Avery, Texas, for the funeral, the Broken Bow News reported on it on 13 June 1924. 



























































The paper reported that Granville was injured when "in some way he fell" from the truck his son William "Bill" Granville Neville was driving.

As it turns out, I know how that happened, or at least, I know the Duncan version of what happened. My great-grandmother was Bud Nevill's sister, Susie Duncan of Avery, Texas. My grandfather told me this story several times. Decades later, he still became angry about what happened. My grandfather was seventeen when his grandfather died. He would have heard this discussed at home and probably around town. 

Bill Nevill was driving a truck with his father, Granville, in it. They were in Avery when Bill took a sharp curve by the Methodist Church too fast. That curve is still there. During my childhood, there was a railroad track crossing there as well. My grandfather always said that Bill was driving too fast when he took that curve and threw the old man out of the truck. My grandfather emphasized that they were meeting a horse and wagon, and Bill was driving so fast that he spooked the horse. 

Of the several states that Granville D. Nevill lived in, I know of Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Were there more??













Every time I take this curve, I think of my great-great-grandfather, Granville D. Nevill, falling from a vehicle and dying from his injuries. 

Granville Nevill was buried in Savannah Cemetery, near Avery, beside his wife, Louisa Rebecca (Walker) Nevill, daughter of John C. and Hannah (Holcomb) Walker. 


















































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Sunday, February 1, 2026

James S Piper, 1870 - 1874

  ©  Kathy Duncan, 2026 

By 1870, James S. Piper was in Marion County, Texas, with his new family:










Not surprisingly, James Piper's occupation is that of a contractor. He had $600 in real estate, and I have seen a deed record for James S. Piper in Marion County. His new wife, Mary A. Piper, is 45 years old and born in Tennessee, and their implied daughter, Laura, is 3 years old, also born in Tennessee. I estimate that James S. Piper and Mary Ann were married in about 1866. Where is currently unknown. Did James and Mary Ann meet in Georgia or Tennessee? Mary Ann would have been 41 at the time of their marriage. At that age, it is very likely that she had been married previously. 

I have not identified George Dyke. Was he an unrelated boarder or a family member? It's possible that he was a son of Mary Ann's. 

My cousin's family was told that James S. Piper and Mary Ann were Laura's grandparents. The only other candidate that I have for her father is James S. Piper Jr. 

In 1870, James S. Piper, Jr. was still in Carroll County, Maryland:










He was boarding with Theodore F. Engler, who was the first cousin of Ezra Engler, who provided testimony as to Mary (O'Hara) Piper's noncupative will in 1867. In 1870, James S. Piper was a 21-year-old farm laborer. In 1867, when Laura L. Piper was born, he would have been 18. He would have spent the previous year fending for himself after the death of his mother. On closer examination, he seems like an unlikely candidate to be Laura's father. I wonder if the Lennon family story was that James S. Piper and Mary Ann were old enough to be Laura's grandparents? 

In 1870, Horatio N. Piper was in Baltimore working as a bookkeeper. William H. Piper was serving with the 23rd Infantry in either Portland or Vancouver. 

In 1871, James S. Piper, Sr., was living in a house on the Gillespie survey in Marion County, Texas. That year he was also sued by the state of Texas for obtaining money under false pretenses. 

He appeared on the Marion County, Texas tax rolls from 1871 through 1874. Then he disappeared from their tax rolls. 

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James S. Piper, 1865 - 1869

   ©  Kathy Duncan, 2026


After the Civil War, James S. Piper disappeared from Washington DC and Baltimore. However, a J. S. Piper emerged in Atlanta, Georgia in 1865. Like James S. Piper, this J.S. Piper was engaged in the construction business. Orders could be left at the store of J.T. Meador, Esq. 







In 1866, James S. Piper of Atlanta travelled to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and stayed at Crutchfield House.














By 1868, James S. Piper, a mason, was a partner with John Law, a plasterer. They seem to be in business with James R. Slayton. This advertisement appeared several times in the Chattanooga Daily American Union. My conclusion is that the J. S. Piper who was a contractor in Atlanta, Georgie was James S. Piper and that he relocated to Chattanooga, Tennessee. 





















Two days after this advertisement ran the partnership between J. R. Slayton, Jas S. Piper, and John law was dissolved.














A year later, Jas. S. Piper was supervising the construction of a three-story brick building for General Brown. A few years later, a flood destroyed much of downtown Chattanooga. I have not determined if this building survived. 



















Is this the same James S. Piper I've been researching? My gut says, "yes." This man appears in Atlanta at the same time James S. Piper disappeared from his Baltimore/Washington DC stomping grounds. Then he relocated to Chattanooga just in time for the Tennessee birth of his daughter, Laura Lee Piper, in 1867. 

This James S. Piper also seems to magically disappear from Chattanooga before the 1870 census was taken. 

This move would have placed James S. Piper in Atlanta, Georgia, when former wife, Mary, died in Carroll County, Maryland. William H. Piper joined the army during this time period. Horatio N. Piper seems to have been in Baltimore. It's possible that James S. Piper, Jr. made his way to Atlanta or Chattanooga to join his father. 


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